Senior

"No." Escort Huang hurriedly stopped him. "Their leader is an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist. Even if you are gifted, you have yet to grow strong. It would be unwise to clash with them."

Fang Yong froze. Thinking of his future, he turned away again, deeply aggrieved.

"If I cultivate Saber Qi, why should I fear this bunch of petty thieves?" Fang Yong snorted coldly.

Hearing this, Liu Wensheng could not help asking, "Has your Blade Art reached Great Accomplishment?"

Fang Yong shot him a cold glance. "Almost."

Although Liu Wensheng did not like him, he could not help sighing at this moment. "Having talent really is nice."

The little maid tugged at Liu Wensheng's sleeve, somewhat curious. "Is he really that talented?"

Though Liu Wensheng did not want to admit it, he still nodded. "Very talented. In Yang City, he should rank among the best."

He then spoke of how long Fang Yong had practiced the blade, making even the little girl cast him a sidelong look. "He really does have some genuine skill."

Fang Yong did not interrupt, but he puffed out his chest. Even Liu Wensheng, whom he had always looked down on, suddenly seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

Bang!

At that moment, the locked door was kicked open.

"Escort Huang, you really can hide." The newcomer immediately looked at Huang Youren and sneered.

Seeing that hiding was no longer possible, Escort Huang could only force a smile and exchange pleasantries. Clearly, the two knew each other; both were Ninth Grade Martial Artists.

"Come out, all of you. The chief wants to see you. If even one is missing, you know the consequences." After giving the order, the man turned and left.

Escort Huang's expression changed slightly, but he had no choice. He could only lead everyone out of the room and onto the deck.

Jiang Ping finally saw the nearby notorious water bandit leader. He was a scar-faced middle-aged man, surrounded by a group of fierce and evil strong men, looking every bit the imposing tyrant.

Escort Huang shielded the group behind him and was about to step forward in greeting when the middle-aged man across from him said calmly, "Kill them all!"

"Huh?"

Both sides changed color. While the water bandits were excited, Jiang Ping's group was caught completely off guard and panicked.

"Are we going to lose our lives on our very first Escort Mission?" Liu Wensheng cried out.

The other Senior Drafters were also thrown into disarray, filled with confusion. This was not their first encounter with these water bandits—why were they determined to wipe them out today?

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Shouts tore through the air.

These water bandits were desperadoes to begin with, and many took pleasure in murder. Now that they could spill blood, how could they not be thrilled?

Especially after seeing Lady Chen's beauty, many of their eyes went straight.

At once, two Ninth Grade Martial Artists and dozens of men charged in to surround and kill them. Escort Huang and the others could only defend themselves passively.

"So this is the martial world? No loyalty, no sentiment—one moment you are fine, the next they turn their faces!" the little girl said indignantly.

Within moments, people had died on both sides.

On the deck, the water bandit leader looked quite at ease as he watched the slaughter ahead, a satisfied smile appearing on his face as though he enjoyed the scene.

He did not notice that, amid the fighting crowd, a young man cast him a hurried glance.

Then—

Whoosh—

A slightly wild wind suddenly blew in. The fighting water bandits only felt a cool chill, fit for a burial.

But the Eighth-Rank leader's expression stiffened, and his body trembled involuntarily.

His ease vanished in an instant, replaced by an icy cold that surged from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.

Having grown through slaughter, he knew this feeling all too well.

This sense of death—this Wind Force that could threaten his life.

It's over!!!

"Senior, spare—"

The leader instinctively began to beg for mercy, his voice trembling.

Unfortunately, the explosion within his body came faster than his plea.

The unwillingness and terror in his eyes became his final words.

A mighty waterborne tyrant fell in an instant!

Bang!

An explosion rang out. A bloody firework blossomed across the deck beneath the night sky, leaving everyone locked in battle dumbfounded.

"Not good! The chief is dead! Run!"

Those closest to the leader saw everything clearly. They instinctively screamed and leaped into the water.

The two Ninth Grade Martial Artists instantly realized something had changed and immediately jumped into the water to flee.

The other water bandits saw that of the three martial artists, one had died and two had fled. With no leader left, they scattered in an instant.

Escort Huang was dazed for a moment. Only when he came back to himself did he let out a long breath. "We're saved."

He turned to the bedraggled crowd. "Is everyone all right?"

Everyone shook their heads. Only a few had suffered minor injuries; no one had lost their life.

Fang Yong, however, had revealed his martial artist strength in the midst of the fighting, killing two water bandits.

Liu Wensheng said with a complicated expression, "I never expected you to have become a martial artist already."

Fang Yong raised the Black Saber in his hand. "You should know this was only natural. You shouldn't compare yourself to me."

Liu Wensheng sighed inwardly, then looked at Jiang Ping. "You too, keeping quiet while training your Blade Art to the Minor Accomplishment stage."

"Not worth mentioning. I cannot compare to Brother Fang," Jiang Ping replied modestly.

Chen Family's Little Maid smiled. "You really can't. Feeling a little inferior now?"

It seemed she had always kept Jiang Ping's remark about her young lady feeling inferior close to heart.

"Not at all. We martial artists should compare ourselves only to see whether we've grown and improved. If we compared ourselves to this and that every day, wouldn't we be exhausted to death? After all, heroes under heaven are as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river."

Jiang Ping was speaking to the little girl, but also to Liu Wensheng. It was a form of consolation.

"Come over here."

Escort Huang led everyone into the cabin, then solemnly bowed toward the bedraggled merchants and travelers inside.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving us."

Clearly, he believed the person who had acted must be among these travelers.

Seeing this, Liu Wensheng, Fang Yong, and the others also bowed in thanks.

Jiang Ping likewise bowed with a devout expression. Lady Chen glanced among the travelers and cupped her hands in salute as well.

"This is proper etiquette. Though the Senior who acted may not wish to reveal himself before others, perhaps regarding it as a mere lift of the hand and seeking no thanks from us, to us, it was a matter of saving our lives. This is a great kindness. Though we have nowhere to repay it, we must remember it," Escort Huang said slowly.

"A very powerful Senior. I happened to catch a glimpse—the Eighth Rank water bandit exploded in an instant. It could be called an instant kill." Fang Yong was deeply impressed, his face full of shock.

"Indeed, very powerful. If I'm not mistaken, it should have been a formidable Sword Qi. The strength it displayed is likely not much weaker than Head Escort Zhu of our Escort Agency."

Escort Huang was well-traveled and experienced. The instant the water bandit leader exploded, he had sensed it. That Sword Qi had even seemed somewhat familiar.

"If I comprehend Saber Qi, could I do something like that?" Fang Yong asked with a hint of longing.

"Of course you could. But such a realm is not easy to attain. You started too late; even if you are a genius, it will still take one or two years," Escort Huang said.

"Ah? It takes that long?" Fang Yong found it hard to believe. He was already close to Great Accomplishment.

"A technique that lets a martial artist fight above their rank—how could it be simple? If you wish to be as free and powerful as that benefactor Senior, you still need time." Huang Youren shook his head.

Chen Family's Little Maid was exceedingly excited. "A night in the martial world, sword in hand, asking neither merit nor fame—how dashing."

Her own young lady knocked her on the forehead. "Read fewer storybooks in the future."

"Achoo!" Jiang Ping suddenly sneezed.

Several days later.

Escort Huang led the group safely through three county towns, unloaded a large batch of goods, and began traveling light, riding on horseback.

However, halfway to the fourth county town, they were still blocked by a group of fairly formidable villains.

"There won't be a repeat of that night's incident. Rest assured, everyone," Escort Huang comforted them.

Just as he was about to offer some silver for passage, a sudden change occurred.

An incomparably fierce gale swept through the area.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Everyone's expressions changed, for their weapons were trembling as though resonating with something.

Then they witnessed a terrifying sight.

Above the heads of those villains before them, dozens of Sword Qi hung suspended in the air, vast and razor-sharp.

"Such Sword Qi!!!" Escort Huang's hands were trembling.

"Qing Yan!"

A young voice called out from behind them. Everyone turned to see a White-Clad young man riding closer on horseback, the sword in his hand already swinging.